Developing his craft in near isolation in Auburn, California, he shifted from traditional verse to a distinct, ornate prose style that earned him a position among the "big three" of the magazine Weird Tales.
Early Development and Education
Born in 1893 in Long Valley, Clark Ashton Smith spent most of his life in Auburn. Although he attended Placer High School, his formal education was limited due to intense agoraphobia. Instead, he pursued an extensive self-directed curriculum, memorizing the unabridged dictionary and reading the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica twice. His literary foundation included works by Edgar Allan Poe, the Arabian Nights, and various fairy tales. He taught himself Spanish and French to translate works by poets such as Charles Baudelaire and Paul Verlaine.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Literary Career and Influences
Smith began writing short adventure novels like The Black Diamonds and The Sword of Zagan as a teenager. After encountering George Sterling’s work, he focused primarily on poetry, eventually publishing his first collection at age 19. His transition into fiction led to his membership in the Lovecraft circle, where he exchanged linguistic concepts and mythological references with H. P. Lovecraft. Critics noted his unique use of metaphor and tone-color to create what he described as verbal black magic.
Artistic Pursuits and Later Life
Beyond his literary output as a poet, novelist, and science fiction writer, Smith practiced as a painter and sculptor. His career was marked by periods of poor health and intermittent production, beginning in his youth with symptoms of depression and joint pain. Throughout his life in the United States, his work attracted both praise for its daemonic strangeness and criticism for its morbid themes. He died in 1961 in Pacific Grove and was buried in Auburn.
Fast facts
- Born: 1893, Long Valley
- Died: 1961, Pacific Grove
- Education: Placer High School
- Primary Fields: Literature, Poetry, Painting, Sculpture
- Citizenship: United States
- Burial Site: Auburn
- Associated Circle: H. P. Lovecraft, George Sterling
Questions readers ask
What was Smith's writing style?
He utilized a rich, ornate vocabulary and a cosmic perspective, aiming to draw readers into accepting impossibilities through rhythmic prose and intricate metaphors.
Which authors were influenced by his work?
His writing impacted several notable figures, including Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Fritz Leiber, George R. R. Martin, and Harlan Ellison.
Achievements
- Genres: fantasy, dark fantasy and horror literature
.jpg)
